A survey was recently taken with 578 drinkers at the Edinburgh International Science Festival. The participants sampled a variety of red and white wines in a blind taste test with prices ranging from about $6 to $50. The results concluded that people could only tell the difference between cheap and expensive white wines 53% of the time, and 47% of the time for red wines. 50% average is equal to a guess.
This backs up a study from a few years ago, which showed that individuals who are unaware of the price do not derive more enjoyment from more expensive wine. That survey of 6,000 blind tastings showed that the correlation between price and overall rating is small and negative, suggesting that individuals on average enjoy more expensive wines slightly less. Bottom line - wine does not have to be expensive to taste good.
Apr 26, 2011
What's in a Name
You have all seen those little cardboard thingies that are put around a coffee cup from Starbucks and other coffee places. Did you know there is actually a name for them? They are called zarfs. A zarf was originally a metal chalice keep your hot coffee from burning your fingers. The fancy cup holder has morphed into the modern-day cardboard sleeve that comes wrapped around your hot coffee cup. Next time you are in Starbucks, ask them if the zarf is free. It might be fun to watch the reaction from your barrister...
Cuss to Ease the Pain
No need to feel bad about it, says a 2-year-old study from the journal NeuroReport that's been making the rounds this week. Swearing actually helps reduce the pain you feel.
Researchers from Keele University in Staffordshire, England, asked test subjects to put their hands in icy cold water, and see how long they could stand to keep them immersed. (This is a common practice to test pain, because it leaves no mark and does no physiological harm.)
They then had the study participants either say a swear word or a neutral word. They found that those who invoked foul language were able to withstand the pain better than those who kept it clean.
The researchers think that swearing induces a flight-or-fight response, and thus, "nullifies the link between fear of pain and pain perception."
This doesn't mean you should let loose indiscriminately, though. The effect worked best for people who did not swear often.
Researchers from Keele University in Staffordshire, England, asked test subjects to put their hands in icy cold water, and see how long they could stand to keep them immersed. (This is a common practice to test pain, because it leaves no mark and does no physiological harm.)
They then had the study participants either say a swear word or a neutral word. They found that those who invoked foul language were able to withstand the pain better than those who kept it clean.
The researchers think that swearing induces a flight-or-fight response, and thus, "nullifies the link between fear of pain and pain perception."
This doesn't mean you should let loose indiscriminately, though. The effect worked best for people who did not swear often.
Apr 22, 2011
Happy Friday
The spoken word, past life, and neglected opportunity can not be called back.
Speaking in the present, I live for the opportunity to have a Happy Friday!
Speaking in the present, I live for the opportunity to have a Happy Friday!
Fun Uses for Eggs
Egg whites can be used in place of white glue for children's projects. Egg whites can be mixed with the other ingredients to make paper mache.
Cascarones, pronounced kas-ka-ron-ez, are a Mexican tradition used for Easter and other celebrations. It is an egg shell filled with confetti used to crack over someone's head and shower them with the confetti inside. Great fun and and always a surprise.
The Japanese are masters at carving intricate designs and pictures in egg shells, while the Ukrains dye elaborate designs using wax and dye.
How about a plant starter. cut the tops off of egg shells and put them back in the carton. Fill with potting soil, add a seed, some water, and you have useful plant starters, complete with tray.
If you have way too much time or way too much money, you can make or buy a Faberge egg.
There are thousands of other uses, but thought i would provide a few, just for fun.
A school in Seattle this year had the political audacity to call Easter eggs, 'spring spheres'. It didn't work, when the person brought in eggs, the children all said, "oh, Easter eggs." Eggzactly!
Talk Like Shakespeare Day
To be or not to be a fun day, that is the question. Have some fun tomorrow because it is William Shakespeare's 447th birthday on April 23, 2011, Talk Like Shakespeare Day is a day on which all citizens are encouraged to express their inner thespian, incorporating Shakespearean lines into everyday conversation. It was started in 2009 in Chicago. Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't. . . Make someone smile.
Bacon Lovers Food
Easter or not, what goes better with eggs than bacon. You know you like it. In fact, you love it. Here is something called the Bacon Explosion. Only 5,000 calories per log.
It is made of Kansas City style sauce rubbed Italian sausage, smoked slowly over hickory and oak wood and stuffed with bacon, then wrapped in bacon. There are variations, such as Jalapeño or Cheese. All are served on a big hot dog bun. For desert, you can have some chunks of crispy chocolate covered bacon in maple syrup ice cream. If you don't want to make your own, you can buy online at this LINK. Mmmm!
It is made of Kansas City style sauce rubbed Italian sausage, smoked slowly over hickory and oak wood and stuffed with bacon, then wrapped in bacon. There are variations, such as Jalapeño or Cheese. All are served on a big hot dog bun. For desert, you can have some chunks of crispy chocolate covered bacon in maple syrup ice cream. If you don't want to make your own, you can buy online at this LINK. Mmmm!
Google Body
Google Body is a detailed 3D model of the human body. You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more. LINK
Airplane Facts
95% of people involved in airplane crashes do survive.
Popular Mechanics reviewed data of every commercial crash between 1971 and 2005 and discovered that those sitting in the tail had a 40% higher chance of survival.
Your blood alcohol level doesn't actually change when in the air. The difference is that you might feel drunker because of lower quantities of oxygen and a pressurized cabin.
Cell phones do not harm instruments, Federal Communications Commission bans them from planes, because when used in the air they can bounce along many towers on the ground and stop other calls from going out. Some airlines in Europe are now allowing the use of cell phones in the cabin.
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute concluded that driving is far more dangerous than flying. According to their calculations, driving the equivalent distance of a flight poses a 65 times higher injury risk than flying in a commercial airplane.
There has actually been a 65% jump in the number of birds hitting engines, and it is an immediate and great concern for the Federal Aviation Administration. Engines can only handle birds that are about 4 lbs,
Popular Mechanics reviewed data of every commercial crash between 1971 and 2005 and discovered that those sitting in the tail had a 40% higher chance of survival.
Your blood alcohol level doesn't actually change when in the air. The difference is that you might feel drunker because of lower quantities of oxygen and a pressurized cabin.
Cell phones do not harm instruments, Federal Communications Commission bans them from planes, because when used in the air they can bounce along many towers on the ground and stop other calls from going out. Some airlines in Europe are now allowing the use of cell phones in the cabin.
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute concluded that driving is far more dangerous than flying. According to their calculations, driving the equivalent distance of a flight poses a 65 times higher injury risk than flying in a commercial airplane.
There has actually been a 65% jump in the number of birds hitting engines, and it is an immediate and great concern for the Federal Aviation Administration. Engines can only handle birds that are about 4 lbs,
Alamo and Red Baron
This week In 1836, Texas forces under Sam Houston with the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo!" defeated the army of Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna at San Jacinto, Texas, opening the path to Texas independence.
This week in 1918, German World War I flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen, known as "The Red Baron," was killed by Allied fire over Vaux-sur-Somme, France.
This week in 1918, German World War I flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen, known as "The Red Baron," was killed by Allied fire over Vaux-sur-Somme, France.
Historic Panoramas
For the history buffs in the crowd, this site has some great shots of historic sites. LINK
Sites include things like Daniel Boone's gravesite, Davy Crockett's childhood home, Abraham Lincoln sites, Appomattox, where the end of Civil War papers were signed, etc. Interesting stuff.
Sites include things like Daniel Boone's gravesite, Davy Crockett's childhood home, Abraham Lincoln sites, Appomattox, where the end of Civil War papers were signed, etc. Interesting stuff.
Apr 19, 2011
Records
Feels more like Thanksgiving to me than Easter as I look at the numbers. As of a few weeks ago I had over 10,000 site visits to this Shubsthoughts blog, where my Friday Thoughts get posted. In webdom, that is not much, in fact some sites get that many visits a day, and some biggies, per hour.
Next week we pass another record as the total number of posts reaches 1,500. It makes me feel good that some of you think my musings are worth a look. As an aside, it also has been good for sales of my books. Thanks a lot! Hope I can continue to amuse, entertain, or at least provide a break from the daily tedium.
Next week we pass another record as the total number of posts reaches 1,500. It makes me feel good that some of you think my musings are worth a look. As an aside, it also has been good for sales of my books. Thanks a lot! Hope I can continue to amuse, entertain, or at least provide a break from the daily tedium.
Smart Billboards
Technology can sometimes be too smart. Digital billboards that display different ads depending on who is looking at them came from a movie. Now they are real and might change the game of advertising in a serious way. These billboards are like big targeted ads that we see on the internet when we go to certain sites.
Software combines video analytics with environmental factors and Twitter and Foursquare information to decide the best ad to display at that moment. If a young man is looking at an ad, for instance, the billboard will know to show an aftershave ad instead of a tampon ad. If Twitter or Foursquare data indicate that there’s a sports game going on in the area, it might show a Nike ad instead of a FedEx ad.
Many digital billboards already have web cams that can determine the relative age and gender of people who are looking at them, as well as how long each person stands in front of them or looks directly at them. Advertisers use them to gauge the effectiveness of ads and decide which ads to post in what areas.
The newest technology instantly changes a billboard ad based on the video identification of the person and other environmental information. The software learns what works and improves over time. A store in Boulder ran a test and found target ads resulted in a 60% improvement, as measured by time that people looked at the ads.
You might remember the scene in Minority Report when ads change to target the people who are walking past them. This is almost the same thing. Although these change the ads for you, they do not collect information about you. Of course they could in the future. Might be fun to stand around and watch what billboards think of the people standing in front of them.
Software combines video analytics with environmental factors and Twitter and Foursquare information to decide the best ad to display at that moment. If a young man is looking at an ad, for instance, the billboard will know to show an aftershave ad instead of a tampon ad. If Twitter or Foursquare data indicate that there’s a sports game going on in the area, it might show a Nike ad instead of a FedEx ad.
Many digital billboards already have web cams that can determine the relative age and gender of people who are looking at them, as well as how long each person stands in front of them or looks directly at them. Advertisers use them to gauge the effectiveness of ads and decide which ads to post in what areas.
The newest technology instantly changes a billboard ad based on the video identification of the person and other environmental information. The software learns what works and improves over time. A store in Boulder ran a test and found target ads resulted in a 60% improvement, as measured by time that people looked at the ads.
You might remember the scene in Minority Report when ads change to target the people who are walking past them. This is almost the same thing. Although these change the ads for you, they do not collect information about you. Of course they could in the future. Might be fun to stand around and watch what billboards think of the people standing in front of them.
Eight Interesting Jobs You Don't think About
Think your job is boring? Here are a few interesting jobs you might consider if you are looking for a career change. These are real jobs, with listings on the internet. I won't give details, because they are mostly self explanatory. If you are interested, Google for job descriptions. Cheese sprayer, hair boiler, professional whistler, bird crap cleaner, ostrich babysitter, dog food tester, airplane repossessor, and gum buster. Gum busters clean up gum stuck on roads, benches, etc.
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